Sweet cinnamon monkey bread - A cinnamon roll wannabe

The sweet smell of baked cinnamon rolls wafting through the air, many a times wondering how it could actually sweeten up the air it mingles with. The aroma and warmth of it just unbeatable.
Sigh! But those cinnamon rolls are loaded with butter and sugar that makes it exclusive, isn't it? Oh well, at least the icing that goes on top of it. Without the icing, it is just makes a mass of swirled dough!

This recipe fuses two of my favorite things, bread and those sinful cinnamon rolls. I did come up with this just because I couldn't resist the idea of bringing those two in one healthful dish and also because I just adore the spice called Cinnamon.
In fact, it is such a versatile spice, used in both savory and sweets dishes. But again, to best preserve its aroma and flavor, I always store a good quality cinnamon powder and sticks in the freezer.

The name "monkey bread", because it is basically a pull apart bread, that comes off in little individual rolls. They are usually single layered, but I stacked them on top to give it that bee hive effect.
You may also slice them, toast it, and slather a little of some good spread mixed with honey and "wow" yourself! :)

My recipe calls for 1/4 cup of cinnamon and sugar mixed together, but this actually does not knead that much. It is just the minimum I could come up with so that I can acutally roll the dough in. You will have a lot of leftover which you may use later.
So people who are trying to stay away from sugar... try not be intimidated by this one.

Sweet cinnamon monkey bread

Ingredients:

White Whole wheat flour - 3 cups
Whole wheat pastry flour - 1 cup
Yeast - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1 tsp
Warm water - 1/4 cup
Salt - To taste
Water - To knead
Cinnamon + Sugar - 1/4 cup (Adjust the concentration of cinnamon as need be)

Method:

Mix yeast, and 1 tsp of sugar with warm water. Let it activate for about 10 min.

Meanwhile mix the flour and salt together. Add it to the yeast mixture and knead along with salt and more water.

Knead till it forms a smooth ball. That should be about 15 min. The more you knead, the better rise you will get.



Cover and let it sit for about 2 hours, till it doubles.



Plop it over onto a floured surface and fold over a few times.

Roll them into balls and coat each one with cinnamon sugar and arrange on the baking pan of any shape you prefer. They will expand, so space in between them in okay.



Cover and let it rise for about an hour or two.

Preheat oven to 375F.

Bake for about 40 min or until golden brown on top and the cinnamon sugar gives it a nice color.

Rest for about an hour outside the oven.

You could either pull them apart or slice them to serve.